Parker client takes responsbility for getting to camp on time

The 49ers are certainly in the market for an offensive tackle in the April draft. It is easy to assume that they will use one of their first-round picks to address that position.

That might ultimately be the case, but coach Mike Singletary said the 49ers will remain true to their draft board.

“We’re not going to reach,” Singletary said. “We’re not going to make something happen. It’s just going to evolve.”

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Some of the top tackles in the draft were available today to the media here at the NFL Scouting Combine. Here is a brief look at some of those players.

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Trent Williams, Oklahoma

He is definitely a possibility for the 49ers with either of their first-round picks . . . if he lasts that long, of course.

And if the 49ers should be lucky enough to grab him, they’ll also be lucky enough to have contract negotiations with agent Eugene Parker, who represents Williams.

Parker has a reputation for failing to get his clients into training camp on time. (Parker represents Michael Crabtree, who had a 71-day contract impasse. That might actually benefit the 49ers, believe it or not. Because he missed so much time, the 49ers insisted on a six-year contract rather than the typical five-year deal.)

I asked Williams if it’s a concern that he might miss time in training camp because Parker is his agent.

“Not to me,” Williams said, “because to each man, his own. At the end of the day, it’s my decision whether I want to go to a camp or not. So I will be making that decision, not my agent.”

Good answer.

Williams played right tackle as a junior and thrived. But he was generally regarded as being less effective on the left side. Still, he said he feels better at left tackle.

“I played left my whole life (before Oklahoma),” Williams said. “It’s kind of a little more weird moving over to the right (his freshman through junior seasons) than it was moving to the left (his senior season).”

When asked what he would say to those who thought he struggled last season, Williams said, “The day I get in camp, it’ll be — that’s where I’ll start proving them wrong.”

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Anthony Davis, Rutgers

An expected first-round pick, Davis did not come off as confident as some of the others who came into the room.

When asked to assess his strength as an offensive tackle, Davis answered, “I would say pass blocking, but I need work in both. I need to get better in both run blocking and pass blocking.”

Why did he say pass-blocking?

“I just picked one,” he said to laughter.

He added, “My athleticism helps me get out of a lot of situations. If I step the wrong way it helps me get back into position.”

One of the concerns with Davis is a “weight problem.”

“Coming into Rutgers I was 366,” Davis said. “After that I’ve been trimming down since. You’re talking about the incident in the summer (before his sophomore season). I came in at 320 instead of 315. And you just don’t do that at Rutgers. I just had to suffer the consequences.”

He weighed in today at 323 pounds.

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Mike Iupati, Idaho

He played left guard in college, but some believe he has the athleticism to play tackle in the NFL. To that end, Iupati (pronounced U-potty) is working with Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater on his technique to make the transition to tackle.

When asked why he played left guard at Idaho, Iupati said, “Because I was quick and I like to pull and kick out those linebackers and defensive ends. That’s pretty much the main reason why. I like to be engaged to a person real quick and I like to pull.”

Iupati worked at left guard, right guard and right tackle during the week at the Senior Bowl practices. He struggled during the game, as he showed a tendency to reach and grab. Iupati said he was surprised he did that.

“I don’t know why I did that,” Iupati said. “I have a short punch and I come off the ball very physical, sometimes too aggressive. I guess that the pass blocking kind of changed of my game. I didn’t want to get beat so I didn’t want to just try to tackle them.”

When summarizing his playing style, Iupati said, “I’m very competitive. That’s my nature. When it comes to football, I like to destroy a lot of people. As big as I am I do not want to get beat.”

The 49ers plan to interview Iupati (they interview all these players) to help determine where his best fit might be in the NFL.

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Charles Brown, USC

He was converted from tight end while at USC, so he is still learning the position. Where the 49ers are picking in the first round, it’s generally considered too early to take him there. But if he lasts into the second round – or the 49ers move back – he might be an option.

“Coming out of high school, Coach (Pete) Carroll told me if I weighed too much I would probably play lineman, so I came in around 280,” Brown said. “There was no (weight) limit but you could tell I was too heavy to play tight end and catch balls. That was redshirt freshman year.”